Protective garment



June 17, 1958 M. H. ARGYLL PROTECTIVE GARMENT 28 INVENTOR Filed Feb. 5, 1956 MAR/0N H. ARGYLL MW; ITORNEYS United States Patent PROTECTIVE GARMENT Marion Henry Argyll, Washington, D. C.

Application February 3,1956, Serial No. 563,321

Claims. (Cl. 128-238) This invention relates to a nether garment whichis to be worn or used by females suffering from any form of incontinence. It is particularly valuable tohospital patients and to the aged in order to forestall the possi bility of the above mentioned incontinence.

An absorbent pad or insert may or may not be used in connection with this garment, depending on whether theincontinence is an actuality or a dreaded possibility. By-dreaded possibility it is meant that the need for such a garment may well arise quickly and with little or no Warning, audit is within the contemplation of this invention that the garment described hereinbelow may be worn at alltimes, as regular article of dress, by females who are in advancing years. As will be explained, such a garment should be comfortable, of a suitable material, and easy to don.

Many females, and more particularly, many elderly females, suifer from incontinence, and are unable to control the flow of urine. Unfortunately, when those suffering from this malady'are elderly, they frequently are unable to care for themselves and are unable to don, adjust; and maintain devices and means as are presently available to cope withtheir unfortunate situation.

Further, certain of these elderly females also suifer from anility, and are unable or unwilling to appreciate the necessity for wearing absorbent padding under the circumstances, and will attempt to divest themselves of these devices;

It will therefore be seen that it is desirable to provide 'Further, it will be seen that inasmuch as such females are frequently institutionalized, it is quite desirable that such garments be manufactured in but one or two sizes, and be so arranged as to be readily adjustable to conform to the diverse body shapes and sizes as will be encountered in such institutions;

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects ofthisinvention to provide protective nether garments which are easily'and cheaply manufactured.

it is another object of this invention to provide a protective nether garment which is easily adjustable to conform-to any wearers body.

A further object of'this invention is to provide a protective nether garment having a slide fastener extending substantially throughout its entire length whereby abs'orbent pads may be easily removed and the lower por-' tions of the wearers body cleansed without removal of the garment.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a protective nether garment in which the one end of the slide "ice 2, fasteneris vertically adjustable to provide additional room in the crotch of'the garment.

Still another object of this invention is to. provide a protective nether garment in which select sections may: be replaced without destroying the .entire garment.

Still another. object of this invention is tospr-ovide a". protectiveinether garment which may be easily sterilized.

in whole or in part or which may be disassembledi to.

sterilize only one section or element;

Still." another object of this invention is' to provide a protective nether. garment which may beeasily removed and'shows themanner in which the device is fitted to the torso of the wearer;

Figure? is-aperspective'view of the garment illustrating the'manner in which the various elements aresecured together when the garment is fitted to the torso of'the' wearer;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the exterior surfaces of'the' back side of the garment and'its waist band, and illustrates the vertical adjustability of the-slide fastener in'accordance with thisinvention; and,

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the garment withthepanels attached to-and suspended from the front portion of the'waist encircling band but not yet secured to the back portion of the waist securing band, in the manner best illustrated in Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figures 1', 2 and 4, it will be seen that the garment has'a-sits main elements a waist encircling band 10,'and

a pair-of elongated panels 22 and 14 secured thereto and having their neighboring edges fastened together by a slide fastener or zipper '16.

The waist band 10, which is preferably formed froma light, strong, non-absorbent or quick-drying material, such as nylon, has a large number of button holes 18 spaced at close intervals along its entire length. The

waistband has abutton'20, dimensioned to fit any selected button hole 18, secured at or near one end so that the waistband may be selectively fitted about the waists of individuals of widely varying sizes. In accordance with this'invention, the waist band' may have an elastic insert 21, which is here illustrated as being disposed at the front of theband, so that the waist band may be closely fitted Without being. uncomfortable, or interfering with the breathing of the wearer.

The: panels 12' and 14 are preferably formedv of some fiuid resistant material, such as rubberized. silk, or the like; and'have all of their edges, excepting their neighboring'edges; bound with a stretch'resisting, quick-drying, tape, such as nylon tape 26. The neighboring edges of the panels 12 and 14' are each sewn to the side tape of a conventional zipper 16 which has its closed or bight end 17 sewn, or otherwise secured, to the waist band 10 at a pointiwhich'will. be the front center when the waist band is fitted to the wearer; in the preferred embodiment! elastic insert 21 is located at this portion of the waist band.

The longitudinal ends of the panels 12 and 14 corresponding to the Eight end 17 of the zipper 16, that is to say the first ends, are each provided with two or shape of the torso of the wearer.

more buttons 22, each of button holes 18 of the waist band. It will be seen that the particularv button hole selected for an individual button 22 will vary somewhat, depending upon the size and} For example, if-

shape" of the abdomen of the wearer. that individual is particularly obese, 'the' buttonsof a particular panel "will .be placed closer together than' wouldotherwisebe the case. So as to allow sufiicient slack'imaterial to prevent binding or chafling; the panels 12 and 14 are positioned against .the exterior or outside surface 'ofthe waist band 10, with thebuttons 22.extending inwardly or toward the body. of the". wearer, andthrough the button holes 1S.' At theiopposit'e or second longitudinalend of each of the elongated p'ane1s.12 and 14, thereis atleast one button 23, secured to the panel on the same side thereof as buttons 22. e

Referring to Figure 4, it will now be seenthat when which are fitted into selected a say, a slide fastener'which can be broken-dowminto two entirely separate sections, in which case the bight end of the fastener would not necessarily be-secured' to the front central portion of the waist band 10.

It is also within the contemplation of this invention to make some variations in theconfiguration of the side panels, which are here illustrated as being substantially.

- rectangular, if the garment is to be always worn by the waistband 10 is fitted to the erect body 27 ofthe wearer, the panels 12 and 14-will be-suspended from the front portion of the waist band 10. The zipper fastener 16 is closed, as illustrated in Figure 4, and the second ends of the panels are then passed between the legs of the wearer and then up the back side to cover the buttocks.

in the vfabric will be taken up by absorbent pads whichare placed in that area for the reasons discussed hereinabove;

The slide 28 of the slide fastener 16 has an elongated tab, 30 fixed thereto, and the; tab is provided with two or more buttons 32, all on the same side thereof and spaced from one another. 7 t

It will be seen that this feature gives a further flexibility in the adjustment of the garment to conform to the individual characteristics of the body of the wearer. Thus if the weight of the wearer requires more space in the" area of, the crotch,the buttons 32 nearest the end of' the tab may be secured to the waistband 10,-

as shown'in Figure 3. However, if the particular configuration of the body of the wearer does. not require such an area of fabric in the region of the crotch, or if the buttocks or abdomen are not unduly large, the button 32' nearest the slide fastener may be appropriate, as shown .in phantom.

While the tab 30, as illustrated in Figure 3, is extending vertically upward to the nearest button hole 18,,it will be understood that another button hole may be used with the tab extending obliquely upward, as also shown in phantom in Figure 3, from the slide 28 so as to give a further, and finer adjustment of the position of the panels 12 and 14, or, more particularly, of the second end of the panels as discussed hereinbefore.

It will also be understood that under certain circumstances, and owing to particular bodilyconfigurations that may be encountered, the slide 28 of the zipper may not be drawn to the very end of the zipper but rather may .be locked in an intermediate'position. with the tab fastened in an appropriate button hole to secure the garment snugly against the bodyv of that, particular wearer! f In any event, it should be understood that the arrangement ofthe zipper in such a manner that the tab is always secured to, or near, the center of the back portion of the waist band will serve to hinder the etforts of anile individuals to remove the garment if they find it uncomfortable or disturbing. L

It should be understood that it is within the contempla-.

tionof this invention to make various modifications in the details of the structure of this garment. For example, it is within the contemplation of this invention to provide a slide fastener of the entirely severable type, that is to one individual, and if that individual is not'particularly large or obese, it might be desirable to reduce somewhat the transverse dimensions of the central portions of the side panels, and of course, other variations in size-and v shape to suit an individual wearer are considered to fall within the contemplation of thisinventionr 1 When the garment is worn, it is expected that the individual herself, or a hospital or ward attendant, can open a the slide fastener 16 and insert or replace absorbentpads which are positioned-in the area-of the crotch forthe reasons which have been discussed hereinabove. It'i sf also within the contemplation of this invention that the zipper may be opened when it is desired to cleanse or treat the area covered thereby, and it will be seen that this is -much more convenient than removing 'the entire garment.

It is within the contemplationof this invention that this garment maybe easily and conveniently removed fro'm" the wearer whethershe is standing in an erect positionor 1 isflyingin a bed. When the wearer is standing erect,;the V exemplary garment, hereillustrated, may be quickly and conveniently removed'fromrthe patient by releasing button '20 and two otherwbuttons, p'referablybuttons 23,;j which are, ash-as been explained hereinbefore,;on the second ends of the elongated panels. The release of these three buttons from their selected button holes 18 Will a1-,

low the entire garment to drop to the floor, and the patient, or wearer, will not be required to step'out of the garmen as has been required-hereinbefore;

When it is desired to remove the garment the limbs.

Having described only'a the scope of the following claims.

I claim: 7

1. A sanitary nether garment to be used by inconti nent females or the aged comprising: a waist encircling waist band; second securing means for fastening second corresponding longitudinal ends to said waist band; slidefastener means for separably securing adjacent longitudinally extending edges of one of said panels to the other of said panels; and means for locking the movable slide of said fastener means in a desired closedposition including fastening means securable to said waist band.

2. A sanitary nether garment for use on incontinent persons or the aged comprising a waist encircling bandhaving a plurality of fastener receiving openings formed therein; a pair of fluid resistant fabric panels suspended from said band intermediate 'the ends thereof; a slide fastening means attached to each of said panels substantially along longitudinal adjoining edges thereof'whereby said panels may be separably joined into an essentially integral unit; second fastening means attached to the lower edges of said panels whereby said second fastening means can be extended through the crotch of the user and adjustably secured in the openings in said band; a tab attached to the slide,, whereby the vertical position' from a fe-f male who is confined to a bed, whether as'in a hospital .or other institution, the garment is merely unbuttoned and lifted from the patient without the exertion of moving typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to specific details herein set forth but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications-that I may appear tothose skilled in the art and falling within ,5 of the slide is variable for adjusting the garment to persons of difierent size.

3. A sanitary nether garment to be used by incontinent females or the aged comprising: a waist encircling band; a pair of elongated fluid resistant fabric panels; securing means for fastening first corresponding longitudinal ends of said panels to said Waist band, second securing means for fastening second corresponding longitudinal ends to said Waist band; slide fastener means for separably securing adjacent longitudinally extending edges or" one of said panels to the other of said panels, said slide fastener means comprising a slide fastener night end integrally secured to said Waist encircling band; and means for locking the movable slide of said fastener means in a desired acs? :3 closed position including fastening means securahle to said Waist band.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, and further comprising a plurality of button holes formed in said Waist band, said securing means comprising buttons disposed on the same surface sides of said panels.

5. The structure defined in claim 4, in which said fastening means securable to said waist band comprise a plurality of buttons engageable with said button holes.

Gray Dec. 25, 1888 Zapis July 18, 1939 

